A survey of the Kittatinny Ridge is underway.

Stephanie Ormdoff of the Nature Conservancy said she is mapping parcels of land along the ridge to determine at a glance what is public and what is private. She is working with partners to ensure accuracy.The need for protection is greatest at 50-acre or larger parcels, and anything adjacent to protected land is the second most important. A lot of the protected land is owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.The map, when completed, will give conservancies a place to start with protection.At a session held recently at Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Diane Husic said the corridor is considered 10 miles to either side of the ridge progress.The ridge is part of the Appalachian Mountains.Here's what they've discovered:• Carbon sinks, recreation, aesthetic value, threatened areas, urbanization and climate change.• The ruffed grouse, the state bird, is on its way out.• The cerulean warbler is in decline all across its range.• The red-eye vireo and ovenbird were the most numerous. Steve Kloiber from East Stroudsburg University joined Corey Husic of Harvard and Kerry Reider of Moravian in surveying a 48-mile section of the ridge between May 27 and July 3. They found 995 red-eyed vireos and 694 ovenbirds.• There were high numbers of gypsy moths on their first sweep, but most were dead by the second. Peachtree and lilac borers were found.• Red maples dominated at 10 sites and red oak at 11 sites. Black gum was found at five of 11 sites and some places trees were almost all black gum.• Fifteen tree species were found in their plots. They found some that were invasives with no ecological value, but barberries did nurture birds, showing not all invasives were bad.• There were Witch hazel, black birch and red maple saplings, and many blackberries.• Early in spring many unusual birds came through the area.• An amphibian and herps study is needed.• Julie Eckenrode is working with ZooAmerica to raise the regal fritillary butterfly in captivity. They started with over 3,000 eggs and released 101 butterflies. Many were found sitting on butterfly weed.Burning at Fort Indiantown Gap keeps the grass short, which the butterflies like. The nature center is trying to create a habitat that suits them because Fort Indiantown is the only place they live.• The northern long-eared bat should be listed for protection. There were 60 reproducing females two years before the white-nose syndrome hit the colony at Fort Indiantown Gap. Six species were found in 2004.• Wood rats were confirmed at twelve of 17 sites. Fishers, bobcats and river otters also tripped the traps.